Take a look at all of our different ways you can avoid splurging and make the most of your change this yuletide…

Decorations

Giving your home that festive feeling can be one of the best parts of Christmas, but if you’re not a fan of tacky tinsel or can’t really afford pricey paper-chains, it can sometimes put a dampener on things.

One of the cheapest and easiest ways to get your house looking like Santa’s grotto, is doing it yourself! You can spruce up some cheap baubles, create your own paper chains and even make your own wrapping paper at a pretty low cost if you go about it the right way.

If your old decorations are looking tired and not-so-sparkly anymore but you don’t want to shell out for new ones, give them a bit of a makeover using arts and crafts supplies that you can buy for relatively little cost, such as glitter and sequins.

You can also put together an easy Christmas wreath, by using an old wire coat hanger, a bit of ivy or holly, and some ribbon to decorate it.

Presents

Yes, a lot of people wish they had the most expensive gift in the shop at Christmas, but often between friends it’s the thought that counts, and it’s likely your friends will love something personal or that you’ve made yourself over something you’ve picked up for a tenner on the high street.

You could suggest doing a secret Santa with friends so you only have to buy one gift, or set a limit for the amount you all spend on gifts for each other. It can be a challenging shopping experience but you’ll be able to save much more money!

If you’re a bit crafty, why not try making your friend a personalised homemade gift, like a photo collage or a memory book of your friendship? Anything you can make with stuff you have around the house is great for saving too.

Also, remember you can get discounts at over 1,500 places in Scotland with your Young Scot card.

Food

If you’re having a few people over, why not suggest a bit of a potluck Christmas dinner? Everyone can bring an item and that way both yourself and all your guests will save money. If you offer to prepare the main event, then have others bring the trimmings.

When buying food, it’s always handy to pay a little extra for more - that way you’ll have lots of leftovers to keep for a few days, but make sure you don’t buy things that are going to end up going off, or in the bin. Stick to a plan when you go shopping and make sure you’re aware of how many deals are around so you know where to find the best value products.

Freeze anything that can be stored in the freezer (which is a lot of stuff you may not even have realised!) and you can keep things fresh for much longer.

Going out

So many things to see and do, so little money to fund them, right? Whether paying for all the rides and attractions in town is burning a hole in your pocket or you’re finding it hard to resist going ice-skating with friends, there are plenty of ways you can make the most of spending time with family and friends without spending all of your savings.

A relaxing walk in the winter air is a nice way to spend quality time catching up with a loved for no money at all. While, if you’re looking for an event to attend there are plenty of low-priced, and even free, concerts and plays going on all over Scotland at this time of year.